Biography
ALIF (b. 1986, Tarut Island, Saudi Arabia) is a contemporary artist who transitioned to a full-time practice following a seventeen-year career in the energy sector. Originally self-taught as a graffiti artist in 2014, he has since evolved into a multidisciplinary practitioner specializing in large-scale sculptural installations.
His work has been exhibited at major regional and international institutions, including a recent solo exhibition at Katara Art Center in Doha, as well as exhibitions at Ithra in Dhahran, Sikka in Dubai, and Alriwaq in Bahrain. He has participated in prestigious programs such as the POUSH residency in Paris, the Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium in Riyadh, and an independent residency in Aswan, Egypt, focusing on granite sculpting.
A recipient of the Sikka Grant (2026), Tanween Grant by Ithra (2024), and winner of the Art Marathon competition (2019), his work is held in prominent private and public collections across the region. Alif lives and works on Tarut Island.
Resume
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026 Out of Black, Katara, Doha, Qatar
2021 Soul Nutrition, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026 Summer Exhibition, MISK Art Institute, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2026 Open Studio, POUSH, Paris, France
2026 Sikka, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2026 From the Ground, Alriwaq Art Space, Bahrain
2025 SARMD, Downtown Design, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2025 Annual Salon, Shashai Studio, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2025 From Now to Then, RCRC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2024 Fail Forward, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2024 Art Riyadh, Nayla gallery, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2022 Eastern calligraphers, Desert Designs gallery, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
2022 Annual Calligraphy Exhibition, Cultural Center, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2019 East Art, Aramco cultural center, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2019 Art Marathon, General Culture Authority, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
2015 Beautiful Dates, Dates Festival, Alhasa, Saudi Arabia
2014 Dokhala, Cultural Sea Front, Sanabes, Saudi Arabia
2014 Content Oasis, Beach Graffiti Festival, Qatif, Saudi Arabia
RESIDENCIES & SYMPOSIUMS
2026 Residency, POUSH, Paris, France
2025 Independent Residency: Material Research & Granite Sculpting, Aswan, Egypt
2025 Tuwaiq Sculpture Symposium, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
AWARDS & GRANTS
2026 Grant, Sikka, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2024 Grant, Tanween, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
2020 Grant, Maan, Athr Gallery, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
2019 Award Winner, Art Marathon, General Culture Authority, Saudi Arabia
2014 Grant, Tarut Historical Area, Ministry of Tourism, Tarut, Saudi Arabia
PUBLIC INSTALLATIONS
2025 Granite Sculpture, Endless Arrival, RCRC, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2026 Granite Sculpture, Sababah, Tarut Island, Saudi Arabia [upcoming]
2021 Wood Sculptures, Salam Elhob, Banyan Tree, AlUla, Saudi Arabia
2014 Graffiti, Tarut Castle Area, Tarut Island, Saudi Arabia
SELECTED WORKSHOPS & LECTURES
2026 Hosted Visit & Talk, "Sculpture Meets Furniture", IAU College of Design, Alif Studio, Saudi Arabia
2026 Workshop, Knife craving, POUSH, Paris, France
2025 Guest Lecturer, “From Concept to Form”, Dar Al-Hekma University, Saudi Arabia
2025 Workshop, Wood Power Carving, JAX, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
2021 Workshop, Carving a Spoon, Ithra, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia